Lift and Alignment?

Do you have a pic of your printout from the dealer? I'm convinced mine is fucked up.

 

Here is a picture of mine. Bilsteins all around highest notch in front. Not sure what the red means for right front caster, maybe that they're idiots?

 

You say you don't "need" uca for this lift.....yet the alignment sheet says otherwise....horrible alignment. Even the toe is half assed

 

I do... here ya go.... lemme know if you can read it. I had my lift installed then drove it to my dealer the next day.....

 

I'm going to print yours off and take it. Mine was only a 2inch lift by bilsteins in the front so I absolutely don't need new UCAS. But I know the dealership here sucks ass.

 

Drove mine the next day after also and that's the numbers the stealership did on mine

 

I've had lots of alignments over the years, often playing with street legal race prepped settings. Sometimes just experimenting.

A few tips that I've learned.............

You need a shop that has their machine regularly calibrated by a service tech for the brand machine they use. If the machine is off, it's still wrong.

You need a tech that actually knows the full capability of the machine, not just what Bobby showed him last week.

You need a tech who will work to achieve numbers you take him, even if they are just the ragged edge of stock specs. One who only thinks 'middle of the specs in the computer' is great for dad's Fairmont, not so much for other applications

You may have to pay more than normal rates if they have to futz with stuff a lot, due to your numbers of choice. Maybe.

If you are on the street/highway with a specific load (including you) a lot, have the load in place during the alignment. If they won't let you sit in the vehicle, ballast your seat.

A good tech will be able to tell you immediately if you need additional parts due to wear or excess customization. They will hardly be started before sending you home.

I've never seen a great shop offer a 'life time' alignment. Or even 4 alignments if you pay the price of two today. The best shops you pay as you go. If you have confidence in a tech at a local big box shop, that's fine. But what are you going to do when tech moves on?

 

I completely agree. However, I got lucky and found a good tech at Firestone (lifetime alignment). The tech at this Firestone has a lifted FJ and frequents the FJ forums. When I told him I wanted +4 caster (AP UCA's), he knew exactly why and how to adjust. I am currently running 4.3 casters with close to zero camber and zero toe. Drive awesome.

 

Good for you. Sounds like you hit the jackpot!

Consider getting his personal info if he's willing to share. Guys like that often get lured away from franchise chains to more specialized shops, and you don't want to lose track of him.

You might also ask him if there is another tech there that he'd let work on his rig. You know, in case you needed an alignment while he was on vacation or something. Write that name down as your back up.

 

That's horrible. They didn't even adjust the caster/camber(which is absolute shit). I'd take it back and request more than the last tech "toe&go" alignment.

Your alignment is FAR from perfect. Your tires will definitely wear faster on the outside. Your low caster causes steering wander(twitchy/sensitive steering).

 

I agree...that's a terrible alignment...tires must look silly

 

How's mine look haha

 

Which Firestone in SoCal? I've heard really good things about the one in Downey I think it was. I got the lifetime alignment through Firestone and I go to the one in Pasadena, so far they've seem to have done a great job with my truck...5100/OME 811s and SPC UCAs. Been in twice now in 3 months (turns out regular off-roading is not so good for staying aligned, who would've thought).

 

Firestone in Bre

Firestone in Brea, CA off Imperial Hwy. I forget the tech's name at the moment. I will have to go look at my print out.

 

Well that makes two Firestone's out here I've heard great things about regarding taking good care of lifted Tacos, makes me feel better about getting the lifetime alignment deal from them.

 

Good advice. At least now I know what numbers can be achieved with my UCA's. When my cousin worked for Sears Auto, he let me do my own alignment with stock UCA's and no matter how I adjusted the bolts, I could not get pass 1.9 for Caster with OME 885.

 

I also tried Firestone in Diamond Bar, CA and their tech sucks.

Brea is good, they even reprogrammed my TPMS for $20 when Diamond Bar said that they couldn't reset it and would have to go to the dealer. I told them it has to be reprogrammed when I dropped it off.

 

I can't decide which one is worse

One of the things I love about the SPC arms is the amount of available adjustment. I've got mine set for maximum tire clearance with 0 camber and ~3° caster.

 

So considering I got mine done at the dealership last week..I plan on taking it back to have it redone this week. What numbers should I ask for?

 

You can ask for a gold plated unicorn, but you'll likely get a shit covered apple.

Your upper control arms are limiting what numbers they can actually get for you.

I'd ask for maximum caster with camber being not over ~.4°. It's not going to be perfect, but it will be reasonable.